Combined carrying handle and separator for bottle carriers



Dec. 7, 1943. E. w. HUTCHINGS 2,335,859

COMBINED CARRYING HANDLE AND SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed on :51. 1941 EDWARD MK HUTCH/NGS Patented Dec. '1, 1943 iJNiiED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,335,859 ooMBiiN En CARRYING HANDLE AND SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Edward W. Hutchings, Perry, Fla. Application October 31, 1941', Serial No. 417,408 (01. 224-48) 2' Claims.

This invention relates to bottle carriers and handles, one of which is provided with terminal separating members movable to wedging position between the walls of adjacent bottles to separate and cushion the same and prevent accidental displacement of said bottles during transportation or shipment.

A further object of the invention is to so cons struct the auxiliary handle that, when the latter is moved downwardly against the main handle, the separating members will have wedging engagement with the walls of adjacent bottles to;

hold the same firmly in upright position and I when said auxiliary handle is elevated the separating members will be released to permit the bottles to be readily removed from the carrier.

A further object is to provide a bottle carrier having an auxiliary handle which serves the dual function of a carrying hand grip and as a combined bottle separator and anti-rattler.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and eificiency as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the wedge shaped separating members in lowered or operative position,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, c

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the auxiliary handle in elevated position to release the separating members and permit the bottles to be removed from the carrier, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the wedge shaped separating members.

The improved bottle carrier forming the subjest-matter of the present invention is preferably substantially triangular in shape and constructed and at their upper ends by a hor iz'ont of wood or othersuitable material, comprising oppositely disposed end walls' 6 connected at their lower ends byside'wa constituting a stationary main carry g The carrier is provided with a bbttoni frm d of spaced strips 8 and-disposed withintheb'ody of the carrier is a longitudinal partit L ing independent compartments each adaptedt o receive a row or bottles, in'd'icatdjat [01: meter rier may be constructed to hol'd any'dsir'd nun'i' ber of bottles and for purposes of illustration" is shown supporting six of said bottles. I

Slidably mounted for vertical mov'e'r'ner'it on the 'bar 8 is an auxiliary handle H comprising an inverted substantially U-s'haped member; the opposite legs I"? of which extend through vert'i'cal openings l3 formed in the bar 8. The legs f2 diverge downwardly so as to fri'ctionally engage the walls of the openings l3 and'thus'" hold the auxiliary handle inany desired position'ofve'rti caladjustment. Arranged at the lower ends of the diverging legs l2 of the auxiliary handle; are transversely disposed substantially wedged-shaped;separating members l4, which extendbetween adjacent bottles when the auxiliary handle is depressed and exert a wedging action on the exterior walls of said bottles so as to separate and cushion the same and maintain the bottles in an upright position and at the same time prevent scufiing or breakage of the bottles incident to contact with each other. The length of the separating members I4 is such that they extend between the bottles in each compartment, said members being provided with openings I5 through which extend supporting hooks it formed by bending the wire or other material constituting the lower ends of the diverging legs of the auxiliary handle, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

A tubular sleeve or hand grip H is preferably loosely mounted on the U-shaped member to facilitate gripping the same when carrying bottles. In loading the carriers, the auxiliary handle H is moved upwardly to elevated position and in which position it will be temporarily retained by frictional engagement of the legs I2 with the openings 13 in the main handle. The bottles are then placed within the receiving compartments and a downward pressure exerted on the hand grip I'I, thereby causing th separating members M to be movedto a position betweenadjacent ment of built-in or permanent individual bottle receiving compartments as is now generally the case. This elimination of built-in or permanent bottle receiving compartments is a very desirable feature as it materially reduces the cost of manufacture while at the same time also increases the efficiency of the device as a bottle carrying unit. When transporting bottles, an upward pull is exerted on the handle II so as to elevate the same and move the wedging members to inoperative position out of contact with said bottles, as best shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The carrier may then be moved from place to place by means of the auxiliary handle, as will be readily understood.

Attention is here called to the fact that, when the separating members M are in elevated position, ample space is provided between the bottles of each row so as to permit said bottles to be readily removed from the carrier when desired. It willalso vbe noted that, owing to the frictional engagement between the legs of the auxiliary handle andthe walls of the openings in the main handle, the separating members may be supported in elevated or inoperative position without danger of dropping downwardly within the carrier when placing bottles therein or removing bottles therefrom.

;I t will, furthermore, be noted that the wedgeshaped members of the auxiliary handle cooperate with the main handle inasmuch as said members engage the lower edge of the main handle and act as stops to limit the upward movement of said'auxiliary handle. It will, therefore, be seen that, the auxiliary or movable handle performs the dual function of a hand grip and as a combined cushioning separator and anti-rattler for the bottles.

If desired, the legs I2 of the auxiliary handle instead of diverging may be disposed parallel with each other so as to permit raising or lowering of the auxiliary handle without frictional engagement with the main handle.

It will, of course, be understood that the carriers may be made in different sizes and shapes so as to accommodate any desired number of bottles and that the separating members may, if desired, be constructed of rubber or other yieldable material to assist in cushioning the bottles without departing from the Spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A bottle carrier comprising a body for receiving bottles and including a stationary main handle having vertical openings formed therein, a vertically movable auxiliary handle including diverging legs movable through the openings in the main handle and frictionally engaging the walls of said openings for holding the auxiliary handle in a fixed position of vertical adjustment, and downwardly tapered separating members carried by the lower ends of the diverging legs and movable downwardly with the auxiliary handle into position between the confronting side walls of adjacent bottles and in wedging engagement with said confronting side walls to apply lateral pressure on said side walls and hold the bottles firmly to prevent rattling thereof when said auxiliary handle is depressed.

2. A bottle carrier comprising a body for receiving bottles in rows, a main handle having vertical openings therein, an auxiliary handle disposed above the main handle and provided with depending legs movable through the openings in the main handle, downwardly tapered combined cushioning and separating members carried by the lower ends of said legs and extending transversely of said body beneath the main handle, said separating members being movable downwardly into position between confronting side walls of adjacent bottles and in wedging engagement with said confronting side walls to apply lateral pressure on said side walls and hold the bottles firmly to prevent rattling thereof, said separating members being movable to released position when the auxiliary handle is elevated, the upper portions of the separating members, by engagement with the main handle, serving to limit the upward movement of said auxiliary handle. I

EDWARD W. HUTCHIN GS. 

